Awning



Nov. 10, 1936. c E E 2,060,582

AWNING Filed Jan. 20, 1.933 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 10, 1936. c. B.LQEFFERT AWNING Filed Jan. 20, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 10, 1936. v QLEFFERT 2,060,582

AWNING Filed Jan. 20, .1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 1 fn'wiziw" Nov. 10, 1936.l B, LEFFE T I 2,060,582

AWNING Filed Jan. 20, 1933 4 Sheets- Sheet 4 Kai a/"7? eya Patented Nov.10, 1936 imrnzrrr OFFICE AWNING Charles B. Lelfert, Chicago, Ill.,assignor to Geo. 'B. Carpenter & 00., Chicago, 111., a corporation ofIllinois Application January 20, 1933, Serial No. 652,591

23 Claims. (ar se- 44) My invention relates to improvements'in awningsand has for one object to provide a new and improved awning structurewherein a long awning roller and a long awning may be provided andwherein the roller may be supported intermediate its length to preventsagging Without causing damage to the awning itself. Another object ofthe invention is to provide a long awning made up into; a series ofseparate elements which are automatically joined as the awning is paidout but are automatically disconnected as the awning is rolled up aboutits roller whereby the roller may be supported intermediate its ends orwhereby a plurality of separate short roller lengths may be used. Otherobjects will appear from time to time throughout the specification andclaims. I

My invention is illustrated more or less diagrammatically in theaccompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a perspective view of apreferred form of my awning in the down position;

Figure 2 is a section on an enlarged scale with parts omitted alongtheline, 22 of Figure 1 Figure 3 is a detail plan view of a portion ofthe awning shown in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a section along the line 4-4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a section along the line 5-5 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a section through a modified form of the awning; I

Figure 7 is a detail plan view of a part of the awning shown in Figure6;

Figure 8 is a section along the line 88 of Figure 7; V

Figure 9 is a sectional view showing some parts in elevation of anothermodified form;

Figure 10 is a detail plan View of a. part of the awning shown in Figure9 Figure 11 is a section along the line l|-|l of Figure 9; c

Figure 12 is a detail on an enlarged scale of part of the device shownin Figure 9 showing the parts in a slightly different position.

Like parts are indicated by like characters throughout the specificationand drawings.

Referring first to the preferred form shown in Figures 1 to 5 inclusive,A is any suitable wall. It may have a window A therein. Mounted on thiswall are brackets A A which carry awning rollers A Wound on theserollers are awning sections A A permanently joined togetherjat theirlower end as indicated at A mounted ona brackets A though of course anysuitable form of roller, wood or metal, one-piece or built up might beused.

These rollers are tied together at their opposed inner ends by means ofa squared shaft B which passes through a roller supporting portion B ofthe bracket A and are rolled up or down as a unit by means of the gearbox B into which a working handle not shown may be inserted a driveshaft B and a gear mechanism shown very diagrammatically at B though ofcourse any suitable roller operating mechanism of any desired type mightbe substituted for that shown, which is here shown and described merelyfor purposes of illustration. The two awning sections A A when in therolled position are separate and draw apart onto their, respectiveshafts for the purpose of providing clearance for the bracket member BThe opposed edges of the sections A A are provided with any suitablewell-known type of interlocking or hookless fastener. C is an actuatingmember adapted to engage the opposed hookless fasteners on the edges andforce them into or out of engagement. This actuating member is looselymounted on the spring flap C which spring flap overlies the gap betweenthe rollers A and closes it and is supported on a pin C being held inposition against the awning as it rolls on the rollers by means of thespring C which may be adjusted by means of the slotted head C Theactuating member is bent to engage the hookless fastener and pressedagainst it to overcome its normal tendency to curl thereby keeping thehookless fastener fiat so that the guide or actuating member may readilyopen or close the hookless fastener chain.

As shown in the drawings, when the awning is rolled up, the hooklessfastened elements are cammed apart in the usual manner and each section,and there may be two or more, winds upin its individual roller, the gapbetween the two sections as they are thus wound and the hooklessfasteners and the bearings for the rollers being covered by the member CWhen the awning is rolled down, the engaged or oppo ed hooklessfasteners pass through the member C are interlocked in the usual mannerthus firmly fastening the adjacent awning sections together to give whatis in effect a continuous awning area from end to end effectively onlywhen the awning is down. By this arrangement, the usual destruction ofthe awning fabric resulting from the contact between supporting rollersinpipe A with arms ,A extending inwardly to wall termediate the ends ofthe shafts to prevent bending of the shaft is obviated and since theworking area, interlocking parts are covered by the shield C when theawning is retracted, they are protected from the elements so as toinsure smooth and accurate operation.

In the modified form shown in Figures 6 and '7, the same rollerarrangement is used with the central bracket A but the awning sections DD do not come in contact with one another but are joined by a separatenarrow section D which section rolls on a separate roller D and I eachedge of the section D is joined either to the section D or D by the samehookless fastener arrangement D as found in the preferred form. However,instead of automatically making this joint as the roller is being paidout, the joining is done by means of a yoke D which is moved back andforth along the opened awning to make or unmake the joint by means of acord D which passes through an eyelet D at the lower edge of the awning,an eyelet D adjacent the upper edge of the awning and hangs down belowthe awning so that the operator may manipulate it conveniently. Thisyoke has at either end a tubular locking member D associated with thehookless fastener at each side of the strip D so that as the yoke ismoved up or down, it joins the opposed edges of the central strip withthe two main awning strips.

The operator in this connection has two choices in the way in which hemay operate the device. If he starts with the awning closed, the yoke isat the upper end and the three awning sections are separated. If theawning is opened, the yoke can travel down with the awning and he thenhas the three awning sections paid out to the limit and separated. Thenthe operator can manipulate the yoke with the cord, pulling the yoke upto join the three awning sections.

Or if desired, he can hold the cord so as to hold the yoke in the upperposition. Then as the awning is paid out, the joint will automaticallybe made.

In the modified form shown in Figures 9 to 12 inclusive, instead of thewell-known type of hookless fastener, I use a somewhat similar fasteningdevice. In this connection, the rollers E are supported at their inboardends by the bearing E and each roller carries an awning section E havingthe lowerportion intercepted as at E and associated with the frame EEach separate awning section in this case, however, has sewed into itsopposed side a rope or flat filler member E and there is associated withthis rope or filler member E a fastening plate E This fastening plate ischanneled at either side as at E the channels being bounded by balls Ethe space between the balls being slightly larger than the thickness ofthe awning but much less than the diameter of the reinforcing or fillededge of the awning. There are a number of these tie or latch membersextending across to join the two awning edges. These members are allstrung on a continuous strip of fabric material E so that when in theawning closed position as shown in Figure 12, these members are broughttogether and the fabric hangs down loopwise between them. When theawning is opened as in Figure 9, the fabric bridges the gap from the topto the bottom of the awning, holding the fasteners in place and closingthe awning immediately beneath the joint. When the awning is closed, asit rolls up around the roller as indicated in Figure 12, the firstfastener engages the stop E Successive fasteners are stopped one againstthe other until the entire assembly is in the position shown for threeof them in Figure 12. The awning is opened by reversing this process. Ingeneral, while I have shown three different solutions of the problem,they are all similar in that a series of separate awning rollers areused. Each is separately supported by a permanent bearing means and eachroller has wound upon it a separate awning section. These awningsections are automatically joined together in line with the rollerbearing members so as to give what is in effect a continuous awningsurface or area and these fastening members have this in common that nomatter how the fastening is done the awning sections are automaticallyjoined together and go into operation when the awning is down but aredrawn apart and go out of operation when the awning is up so that thereneed be no contact between the awning fabric and the roll supportingelement,

I claim:

1. In an awning, a plurality of rolls arranged end'to end and joined forunitary operation, fixed supports for both ends of each, a frame heldparallel with and mounted for movement toward and from the rolls, anawning fastened at one end to the frame comprising a plurality ofseparate awning sections each of which is separately wound upon one ofthe rolls between the ends thereof and means for joining adjacent edgesof the awning sections together throughout their entire length wherethey extend beyond the rolls.

2. In an awning, a plurality of rolls arranged end to end and joined forunitary operation, fixed supports for both ends of each, a frame heldparallel with and mounted for movement toward and from the rolls, anawning fastened at one end to the frame comprising a plurality ofseparate awning sections each of which is separately wound upon one ofthe rolls between the ends thereof and means for automatically joiningadjacent edges of the awning sections together as they are unwound fromthe rolls.

3'. In an awning, a plurality of rolls arranged end to end and joinedfor unitary operation, fixed supports for both ends of each, a frameheld parallel with and mounted for movement toward and from the rolls,an awning fastened at one end to the frame comprising a plurality ofseparate awning sections each of which is separately wound upon one ofthe rolls between the ends thereof and means for automatically joiningadjacent edges of the awning sections together as they are unwound fromthe rolls, and for automatically disconnecting adjacent awningi sectionsas they are wound upon the rolls.

4. In an awning, a plurality of rolls arranged end to end and joined forunitary operation, fixed supports for both ends of each, a frame heldparallel with and mounted for movement toward and from the rolls, anawning fastened at one end to the frame comprising a plurality ofseparate awning sections each of which is separately wound upon one ofthe rolls between the ends thereof and means for automatically joiningadjacent edges of the awning sections together as they are unwound fromthe rolls, said means comprising interlocking elements on opposed edgesof the awning sections and a member adapted to engage said elements andcontrol the interlocking thereof.

5. In an awning, a plurality of rolls arranged end to end and joined forunitary operation, fixed supports for both ends of each, a frame heldparallel with and mounted for movement toward and from the rolls, anawning fastened at one end to the frame comprising a plurality ofseparate awning sections each of which is separately wound upon one ofthe rolls between the ends thereof and means for automatically joiningadjacent edges of the awning sections together as they are unwound fromthe rolls, and for automatically disconnecting adjacent awning sectionsas they are wound upon the rolls, said means comprising interlockingelements on opposed edges of the awning sections and a member adapted toengage said elements and control the interlocking thereof.

6. In an awning, a plurality of rolls arranged end to end and joined forunitary operation, fixed supports for both ends of each, a frame heldparallel with and mounted for movement toward and from the rolls, anawning fastened at one end to the frame comprising a plurality ofseparate awning sections each of which is separately wound upon one ofthe rolls between the ends thereof and means for automatically joiningadjacent edges of the awning sections together as they are unwound fromthe rolls, said means comprising interlocking elements on opposed edgesof the awning sections and a member adapted to engage said elements andcontrol the interlocking thereof, the member being yieldingly held at apoint immediately adjacent the roll supports.

7. In an awning, a plurality of rolls arranged end to end and joined forunitary operation, fixed supports for both ends of each, a frame heldparallel with and mounted for movement toward and from the rolls, anawning fastened at one end to the frame comprising a plurality ofseparate awning sections each of which is separately wound upon one ofthe rolls between the ends thereof and means for automatically joiningadjacent edges of the awning sections together as they are unwound fromthe rolls, and for automatically disconnecting adjacent awning sectionsas they are wound upon the rolls, said means comprising interlockingelements on opposed edges of the awning sections and a member adapted toengage said elements and control the interlocking thereof, the memberbeing yieldingly held at a point immediately adjacent the roll supports.

8. In an awning, a plurality of rolls arranged end to end and joined forunitary operation, fixed supports for both ends of each, a frame heldparallel with and mounted for movement toward and from the rolls, anawning fastened at one end to the frame comprising a plurality ofseparate awning sections each of which is separately wound upon one ofthe rolls. between the ends thereof and means for automatically joiningad jacent edges of the awning sections together as they are unwound fromthe rolls, said means comprising interlocking elements on opposed edgesof the awning sections and a member adapted to engage said elements andcontrol the interlocking thereof, the member being yieldingly held at apoint immediately adjacent the roll supports, a cover plate overlyingthe opposed ends of the roll and their supports and carrying the controlmember.

9. In an awning, a plurality of rolls arranged end to end and joined forunitary operation, fixed supports for both ends of each, a frame heldparallel with and mounted for movement toward and from the rolls, anawning fastened at one end to the frame comprising a plurality ofseparate awning sections each of which is separately wound upon one ofthe rolls between the ends thereof and means for automatically joiningadjacent edges of the awning sections together as they are unwound fromthe rolls, and for automatically disconnecting adjacent awning sectionsas they are wound upon the rolls, said means comprising interlockingelements on opposed edges of the awning sections and a member adapted toengage said elements and control the interlocking thereof, the memberbeing yieldingly held at a point immediately adjacent the roll supports,a cover plate overlying the opposed ends of the roll and their supportsand carrying the control member.

10. In an awning, a plurality of rolls arranged end to end and joinedfor unitary operation, fixed supports for both ends of each, a frameheld parallel with and mounted for movement toward and from the rolls,an awning fastened at one end to the frame comprising a plurality ofseparate awning sections each of which is separately wound upon one ofthe rolls between the ends thereof and means for joining adjacent edgesof the awning sections together throughout their entire length wherethey extend beyond the rolls, said means comprising interlockingelements on opposed edges of the awning sections and a member adapted toengage said elements and control the interlocking thereof.

11. In an awning, a plurality of rolls arranged end to end and joinedfor unitary operation, fixed supports for both ends of each, a frameheld parallel with and mounted for movement toward and from the rolls,an awning fastened at one end to the frame comprising a plurality ofseparate awning sections each of which is separately wound upon one ofthe rolls between the ends thereof and means for joining adjacent edgesof the awning sections together throughout their entire length wherethey extend beyond the rolls, said means comprising interlockingelements on opposed edges of the awning sections and a member adapted toengage said elements and control the interlocking thereof, and meansindependent of'the movement of the awning section toward and from therolls for moving the interlocking control member longitudinally of theopposed edges to engage and disengage the interlocking elements.

12. In an awning, a plurality of rolls arranged end to end and joinedfor unitary operation, fixed supports for both ends of each, a frameheld parallel with and mounted for movement toward and from the rolls,an awning fastened at one end to the frame comprising a plurality ofseparate awning sections each of which is separately wound upon one ofthe rolls between the ends thereof and means for joining adjacent edgesof the awning sections together throughout their entire length wherethey extend beyond the rolls, said means comprising a relatively narrowpanel interposed between the adjacent edges of the awning sections, aseparate roller for said panel at a point adjacent to and extendingacross the space between two adjacent main rolls and interlockingelements on opposed edges of the awning sections and narrow panel and amember adapted to engage said elements and control the interlockingthereof.

13. In an awning, a plurality of rolls arranged end to end and joinedfor unitary operation, fixed supports for both ends of each, a frameheld parallel with and mounted for movement toward and from the rolls,an awning fastened at one end to the frame comprising a plurality ofseparate awning sections each of which is separately wound upon one ofthe rolls between the ends thereof and means for automatically joiningadjacent edges of the awning sections together as they are unwound fromthe rolls, said means comprising a relatively narrow panel interposedbetween the adjacent edges of the awning sections, a separate roller forsaid panel at a point adjacent to and extending across the space betweentwo adjacent main rollers and interlocking elements on opposed edges ofthe awning sections and narrow panel, and a member adapted to engagesaid elements and control the interlocking thereof.

14. In an awning, a plurality of rolls arranged end to end and joinedfor unitary operation, fixed supports for both ends of each, a frameheld parallel with and mounted for movement toward and from the rolls,an awning fastened at one end to the frame comprising a plurality ofseparate awning sections each of which is separately wound upon one ofthe rolls between the ends thereof and means for joining adjacent edgesof the awning sections together throughout their entire length wherethey extend beyond the rolls, said means comprising a relatively narrowpanel interposed between the adjacent edges of the awning sections, aseparate roller for said panel at a point adjacent to and extendingacross the space between two adjacent main rolls and interlockingelements on opposed edges of the awning sections and narrow panel and amember adapted to engage said elements and control the interlockingthereof, a yoke extending across the entire Width of the narrow paneladapted to carry the interlocking control member adjacent each edge ofthe narrow panel and means for displacing said yoke to control theinterlocking members between each of the narrow panel and the awningsections.

15. In an awning, a plurality of rolls arranged end to end and joinedfor unitary operation, fixed supports for both ends of each, a frameheld parallel with and mounted for movement toward and from the rolls,an awning fastened at one end to the frame comprising a plurality ofseparate awning sections each of which is separately wound upon one ofthe rolls between the ends thereof and means for automatically joiningadjacent edges of the awning sections together as they are unwound fromthe rolls, said means comprising a relatively narrow panel interposedbetween the adjacent edges of the awning sec-' tions, a separate rollerfor said panel at a point adjacent to and extending across the spacebetween two adjacent main rollers and interlocking elements on opposededges of the awning sections and narrow panel, and a member adapted toengage said elements and control the interlocking thereof, a yokeextending across the entire width of the narrow panel adapted to carrythe interlocking control member adjacent each edge of the narrow paneland means for displacing said yoke to control the interlocking membersbetween each of the narrow panel and the awning sections.

16. In an awning, a plurality of rolls arranged end to end and joinedfor unitary operation, fixed supports for both ends of each, a frameheld parallel with and mounted for movement toward and from the rolls,an awning fastened at one end to the frame comprising a plurality ofseparate awning sections each of which is separately wound upon one ofthe rolls between the ends thereof and means for joining adjacent edgesof the awning sections together throughout their entire length wherethey extend beyond the rolls,

said means comprising a reinforcing member located along each opposededge of the awning section whose thickness is greater than the thicknessof the awning fabric, yokes slidably engaging the edges of the awningfabric extending across between the two opposed sections and adapted toresist separation of the sections, a combined closure and holding webadapted to hold said yokes in spaced relation, the length of the webbeing substantially equal to the length of the awning, the web beingattached at one end on the awning frame and supported at the other endto the adjacent rolls.

17. In an awning, a plurality of rolls arranged end to end and joinedfor unitary operation, fixed supports for both ends of each, a frameheld parallel with and mounted for movement toward and from the rolls,an awning fastened at one end to the frame comprising a plurality ofseparate awning sections each of which is separately wound upon one ofthe rolls between the ends thereof and means for automatically joiningadjacent edges of the awning sections together as they are unwound fromthe rolls, said means comprising a reinforcing member located along eachopposed edge of the awning section whose thickness is greater than thethickness of the awning fabric, yokes slidably engaging the edges of theawning fabric extending across between the two opposed sections andadapted to resist separation of the sections, a combined closure andholding web adapted to hold said yokes in spaced relation, the length ofthe web being substantially equal to the length of the awning, the webbeing attached at one end on the awning frame and supported at the otherend to the adjacent rolls.

18. In an awning, a plurality of rolls arranged end to end and joinedfor unitary operation, fixed supports for both ends of each, a frameheld parallel with and mounted for movement toward and from the rolls,an awning fastened at one end to the frame comprising a plurality ofseparate awning sections each of which is separately wound upon one ofthe rolls between the ends thereof and means for joining adjacent edgesof the awning sections together throughout their entire length wherethey extend beyond the rolls, said means comprising a reinforcing memberlocated along each opposed edge of the awning section whose thickness isgreater than the thickness of the awning fabric, yokes slidably engagingthe edges of the awning fabric extending across between the two opposedsections and adapted to resist separation of the sections, a combinedclosure and holding web adapted to hold said yokes in spaced relation,the length of the web being substantially equal to the length of theawning, the web being attached at one end on the awning frame andsupported at the other end to the adjacent rolls, means associated withthe holding means for the web adjacent the rolls adapted to engage theyokes as they come up with the awning when it is rolled upon the rollsand to arrest the upward progress of successive yokes while permittingthe awning sections to pass through the yokes to release them as theyare wound upon the rolls.

19. In an awning, a plurality of rolls arranged end to end and joinedfor unitary operation, fixed supports for both ends of each, a frameheld parallel with and mounted for movement toward and from the rolls,an awning fastened at one end to the frame comprising a plurality ofseparate awning sections each of which is separately, wound upon one ofthe rolls between the ends thereof and means for automatically joiningadjacent edges of the awning sections together as they are unwound fromthe rolls, said means comprising a reinforcing member located along eachopposed edge of the awning section whose thickness is greater than thethickness of the awning fabric, yokes slidably engaging the edges of theawning fabric extending across between the two opposed sections andadapted to resist separation of the sections, a combined closure andholding web adapted to hold said yokes in spaced relation, the length ofthe Web being substantially equal to the length of the awning, the webbeing attached at one end on the awning frame and supported at the otherend to the adjacent rolls, means asso ciated with the holding means forthe web adjacent the rolls adapted to engage the yokes as they come upwith the awning when it is rolled upon the rolls and to arrest theupward progress of successive yokes while permitting the awning sectionsto pass through the yokes to release them as they are wound upon therolls.

20. In an awning, an awning roller, a support rotatably carrying theroller at a point intermediate the length of said roller, an awningfabric split longitudinally for rolling on the roller on opposite sidesof the support, and automatic means for respectively interlocking theproximate edges of said split fabric as the fabric is unrolled from andfor unlocking said edges as fabric is rolled upon said roller.

21. An awning comprising an awning roller, a bearing support for theroller at an intermediate point in the length of said roller, an awningfabric on said roller and split longitudinally to roll on opposite sidesof the bearing support, and automatic means for respectivelyinterlocking the proximate edges of said split fabric as the fabric isunrolled from and for unlocking said edges as the fabric is rolled upon,said roller.

22. An awning comprising an awning roller, a support rotatably carryingthe roller at a point intermediate the length of said roller, a pair ofawning sections for rolling and unrolling engagement with the roller onopposite sides of the support, means along the adjacent edge of eachsection for detachable engagement with corresponding means of the othersection, and a member secured adjacent the awning roller forrespectively automatically engaging the fabric securing means as thefabric is unwound from the roller and for unlocking said means as thefabric is wound upon the roller.

23. An awning comprising an awning roller, 2. support rotatably carryingthe roller ata point intermediate the ends of the roller, a pair ofawning sections for rolling and unrolling engagement with the roller onopposite sides of the support, means along the adjacent edge of eachsection for detachable engagement with corresponding means of the othersection, an arm above the fabric sections and projecting forwardly fromthe roller support, and automatic means carried by said arm forrespectively locking and unlocking the proximate fabric edges inaccordance with the closing and opening movements of the awning fabric.

CHARLES B. LEFFERT.

